“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the weak” - Psalm 83:2, (NIV).
There is an increasing absence of fathers in many a home today. In the US, for instance, it has been estimated that today almost one out of four children are growing up in homes without a father. Similarly in many developing countries there are increasing number of such single parent led homes.
The effect of this can lead to a host of issues. The mother can be too stressed to meet the material and emotional needs of taking care of the children. As they lack the guidance of a father the children can grow up filled with anger for not having a father early in their lives. A good number can come out with dysfunctional issues for lack of guidance from a set pair of hands.
Unless out of calamities like premature death the presence of a father in a home used to be guaranteed. In most of our traditional societies there were provisions in place to make sure that no home was ever without a father, even with calamities. A father would provide a steady and comforting hand in raising up children.
Social and economic changes have resulted into many single homes now often led by mothers. Whereas there are those who see this as inevitable, we must never lose sight of the power a father can bring when in a home. And of course not just being there but playing a crucial hand in raising children, one of the most important and critical jobs there is in society.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus of Nazareth, for all the fathers out there that you strengthen and comfort them as they take on the most important job of raising children in your image.
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24/04/2024 - 25/04/2024 All day“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4)
Premier Joseph and King David have a particular common characteristics: two individuals who were blessed with success, in their work. When Joseph was taken into the household of Potiphar, “The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered...When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant” ( Gen 39:2-4).
Even when he was imprisoned later, on false accusations, “The LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there” (vv 21-22). Later in his life he is made second in command of Egypt by Pharaoh. “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40).
For David, after he disposed off Goliath, “Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army” (1 Samuel 18:5). His success on the battle field would soon cause trouble for him when the troops started singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (vv 7).
In spite of Saul’s anger at the comparison and even trying to kill him, for David “in everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns” (vv 14-16). Eventually, the throne would pass on to David.
Success in life is one of the blessings the Lord has marked out for believers. These individuals were successful because the Lord was with them. The only one who does not wish to see success of us, is the enemy Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). May we pray that our lives are characterized with the anointing of success, because the Lord is with us!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that I bask in your success, in all that I do, because as was with your servants Joseph, David, Daniel and others, you are with me, and this I pray in Jesus’ name.
